Influence of Neighborhood Built Environments on the Outdoor Free Play of Young Children: a Systematic, Mixed-Studies Review and Thematic Synthesis

Abstract

Urban environments shape early childhood exposures, experiences, and health behaviors, including outdoor free play, influencing the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of young children. We examined evidence for urban or suburban built environment influences on outdoor free play in 0–6-year-olds, considering potential differences across gender, culture, and geography. We systematically searched seven literature databases for relevant qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies: of 5740 unique studies, 53 met inclusion criteria. We assessed methodological quality and thematically synthesized findings from included studies. Three broad themes, features of spaces for play, routes, and social factors intersected to influence the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of neighborhoods for young children’s outdoor free play across diverse cultural and geographic contexts. Proximity to formal or informal space for play, protection from traffic, pedestrian environment, green and natural environments, and opportunity for social connection supported outdoor free play. Family and community social context influenced perceptions of and use of space; however, we did not find consistent, gendered differences in built environment correlates of outdoor free play. Across diverse contexts, playable neighborhoods for young children provided nearby space for play, engaging routes protected from traffic and facilitated frequent interaction between people, nature, and structures. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11524-022-00696-6.

A Qualitative Exploration of the Built Environment as a Key Mechanism of Safety and Social Cohesion for Youth in High-Violence Communities

“…Across focus groups, the youth hypothesized that adult residents may be less open to socializing due to safety-related stressors, which are exacerbated by vacant properties and disrepair in the built environment. Scholars have argued that perceptions of the built environment influence perceptions of neighborhood residents, and hazards in the built environment may contribute to social isolation [ 29 ]. Although urban studies scholarship has documented that many youth fear neighborhood changes brought on by gentrification [ 30 ], some participants celebrated new neighbors brought into the community by gentrification because the influx of people communicates safety that deserted spaces do not.…”

Healthy Neighbourhoods Hub (HNH) Framework: A Practical Guide for Fostering Healthy and Inclusive Living in Florence’s Urban Environment

“…The concept of urban space encompasses various scales, ranging from metropolitan areas to cities and neighbourhoods [9]. However, if health is generated in the context of daily life, i.e., in the neighbourhoods and communities where people live, form relationships, work, shop, and engage in leisure activities, the neighbourhood and community are identified as the primary dimensions in which to address the issue of health and wellbeing [10][11][12]. The resources available for planning healthy places are extensive, but the focus on the neighbourhood scale is relatively limited in this field [13][14][15][16][17].…”

The Dynamic Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space in Diverse Communities: Opportunities and Challenges to Public Health

“…Others also documented how park design or renovations can improve social interactions that lead to a park becoming a shared asset for a community [ 119 ]. Similarly, amenities, social factors and accessibility routes can influence the opportunities of children from diverse cultures to engage in outdoor play [ 120 ].…”

“…Specifically, the availability, quality, and fit to cultural preferences of urban green spaces are associated with leisure participation in such spaces (see connection a in Figure 1 ) [ 112 , 118 ], which contributes to developing social cohesion [ 115 ]. Additionally, the availability and positive characteristics of green spaces (e.g., amenities) are associated with leisure participation in such spaces (see connection b in Figure 1 ) [ 85 , 120 ], which also contributes to developing social cohesion [ 83 ]. Conversely, unsafe green spaces may limit leisure participation (connection c in Figure 1 ) [ 139 ], reducing opportunities to develop social cohesion [ 18 ].…”